Josh Harris '25
Josh Harris ’25 arrived at Illinois College from Maywood, Illinois, recruited to play basketball. It was the relationships, classroom experiences and leadership opportunities, however, that shaped his broader vision for the future.
A sports management major with a business administration minor, Harris balanced the rigors of athletics with personal and professional growth. “Basketball was huge for me—so many memories, so many teammates that became family,” he says. “But IC gave me so much more than the game.”
Harris didn’t confine his learning to campus. Off the court and out of the classroom, he took what he learned and applied it back home, coaching high school and AAU basketball teams. These experiences taught him about leadership, teamwork, and mentorship: skills that complement his dream of continuing to coach and possibly pursue an overseas playing contract.
Inside the classroom, Harris appreciated how professors at IC made it a priority to know their students. “In a small school, they really focus on you. They get to know you as a person, not just a name on the roster,” he says.
Coming from the Chicago suburbs, Harris found small-town Illinois to be a welcome change. “It helped me stay focused. There weren’t distractions. It was about the people and the work,” he reflects.
Now, with his IC chapter closing, Harris is stepping into his next season with confidence, working for BIG 3, a professional 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz. “This place helped me become the best version of myself. I’m ready to give back and go wherever the game, or life, takes me.”